Pivotable target and ball-striking means

ABSTRACT

A simulated pitching or bowling game utilizing ball-like elements elastically tethered to a handle and a platform having pivoted L-shaped arms with ball-striking surfaces facing in opposite directions. Opposing players may face on opposite sides of the platform and attempt to knock all of the arms over by means of pitching or bowling the tethered ball.

United States Patent ,1

Breslow et al.

[15] 3,635,476 [451 Jan. 18, 1972 PIVOTABLE TARGET AND BALL- STRIKINGMEANS Jeffrey D. Breslow; Marvin 1. Glass, both of Chicago, 111.

Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates Filed: Dec. 8, 1969 Appl. No.:882,907

Inventors:

US. Cl. ..273/95 A, 273/102 AP, 273/127 D, 273/58 C lnt. Cl. ..A63b63/04 Field ofSearch ..273/l0l R, 102 R, 102 AP, 127 D, 273/41, 95 R, 95A References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1912 Sloan ..273/95 A1,436,962 1 1/1922 Kaiser ..273/127 D 2,427,434 9/1947 Whitehouse.....273/127 D 3,214,166 10/1965 Gaudet ..273/95 A 3,272,509 9/1966Rogers ..273/102.l C

Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Marvin SiskindAtt0rney-l-1ofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & McCord [5 7] ABSTRACT Asimulated pitching or bowling game utilizing ball-like elementselastically tethered to a handle and a platform having pivoted L-shapedarms with ball-striking surfaces facing in opposite directions. Opposingplayers may face on opposite sides of the platform and attempt to knockall of the arms over by means of pitching or bowling the tethered ball.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEB m 1 8 m2 v INVENTORS JEFFREY D. EQASZOW MA/PV/A 61455 EWW W i r w ATTORNEYS PIVOTAELE TARGET ANDBALL-STRIKING MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A 1. Field of theInvention This invention relates to game apparatuses.

2. Brief Description of the Prior'Art The sport of bowling involves aball which is rolled toward standing pins in an effort to knock the pinsdown. Many forms of simulated bowling games have been devised, most ofwhich utilize the concept of a ball knocking over simulated pins.Neither the sport of bowling nor the simulated games thereof permitdirect competitive simultaneous activity and both require repetitivereplacing of pins, at least after every two attempts to knock all of thepins down.

There is a continuing need in the art for the improvement of games whichsimulate sports activity and there is a continuing desire to make suchgames directly competitive so as to enhance the interest therein. It istoward meeting this need and desire that the present invention isdirected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed, in brief, to theprovision of an improved simulated bowling-type game.

The best mode currently contemplated by me for carrying out theinvention includes the provision of a preferably resilient ball attachedto a preferably elastic strand, which, in turn, is connected to aringlike handle for hand grasping thereof. It is intended that twoopposing players would be provided with these implements.

A small low platform is provided for disposition between the players andincludes pivoted L-shaped arms having opposed ball striking surfaces atthe free ends thereof. The players each attempt to knock all the armsover about their pivots in competition with each other.

BRIEIF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of thegame apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section view through the game apparatus shown inFIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a section view taken generally along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating connectioncomponentsof parts of the platform element of the game of thisinvention.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many differentforms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described indetail a specific embodiment therefor, with the understanding that thepresent disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of theprinciples of the invention and is not intended to limit the inventionto the embodiment illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to thedrawings, the game of this invention includes a ball 12 preferably madeof a suitably resilient material, such as rubber or the like, which isconnected to an elastic strand M also preferably made of a resilientmaterial such as rubber. The strand 14, in turn, is connected to aringlike hand-clasping member 16. In use, it is intended that the ring16 be grasped in the hand of the user together with the ball and thatthe ball would be launched by a throwing or bowling action with theplayer maintaining a connection to the ball by means of the strand andhand ring arrangement.

The game of this invention also includes a platform portion or platformassembly 18. Platform assembly 18 comprises a base 20 having a top 22,sidewalls 24a and 24b and end walls 26. Aligned pairs of uprights 28aand 28b are provided along the length of the top 22 of base 20 withthese uprights mutually facing inwardly toward each other. Small hubs30a and 30b project above each of the uprights 28a and 28b,respectively, and have openings 32 therein for receiving the reducedends 340 and 34b of an axle 36 between each pair of hubs 30a and 3011.Each axle 36 is positioned medially of a generally L- shaped arm 38having divergent portions38a and 38b connected to axle 36 by weblikemembers 40 which span the intersection thereof.

Each of the portions 38a and 38b of arm 38 have ball-striking portions42 and 44, respectively, with the ball-striking portions generallyfacing in opposition to each other. In the preferred embodiment, theseball-striking portions are shown as being generally dished inconfiguration with ribs 46 spanning the recess thereof to provide adecorative effect and to lend strength to the structure. It is to beunderstood that the ball-striking portions might be provided withdifferent colors either in the rib portion or on the back sides thereofor both.

If desired, for convenience of packing and for storage, the platform 18may be formed in two sections. In such a case, assembly could beaccomplished as shown in FIG. 4 wherein each section could be providedwith ofi'set opposed tongues 48 and offset opposed slots 50 with oneslot and one tongue on one piece facing one tongue and one slot,respectively, on the other piece.

To play the game, opposing players may line up on opposite sides of theplatform member 18 and attempt to compete with each other to knock overthe L-shaped arms 38 so that the ribbed ball-striking surfaces 46 facethe opposing player. This competition may be simultaneous and directlycompetitive in this fashion. Initially, the arms may be set up so thatalternate arms face each opposing player. If desired, the game could beplayed from one side with players taking alternate turns. In eitherevent, the effect is that of attempting to bowl or throw a ball to knockover an upright object and the action may be continuous for severalthrows until someone is declared the winner. The placement of the armsin a position for striking is simple since they are on a pivotalmounting. The ball return is automatically accomplished by theconnection of the ball by means of the elastic strandto the hand ring16.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom, as some modifications may be obvious to those skilled in theart.

We claim:

1. A bowling-type game apparatus comprising: A platform member having abase with a top thereon; a plurality of pairs of divergent armsinterconnected at one end, said pairs of arms being arranged in seriesalong the top and movably connected thereto for pivoting movementrelative to said base about a common axis including each of saidinterconnected ends of said pairs of arms; each of said pairs of armshaving generally opposed striking areas at the outer ends thereof; ballmeans for striking said striking areas and moving said arms relative tosaid movable connection, each of said ball means including an elongatedstrand element connected thereto.

2. The game of claim 1 wherein each of said pair of arms are generallyL-shaped with opposed free ends.

3. The game of claim 2 wherein said top includes spaced pairs ofuprights along the length thereof with each of said pairs of arms beingpivoted between a pair of said uprights.

4. The game of claim 1 wherein said strand element is resilient and isattached to a handle element.

5. A bowling-type game apparatus comprising means defining a frame; aplurality of pairs of divergent arms supported on said frame in seriesand being interconnected at one end, said pairs of arms beingmovablyconnected to said frame for pivoting movement relative to saidframe about a common axis including each of said interconnected ends ofsaid pairs of arms; each of said pairs of arms having generally opposedstriking areas at the outer ends thereof, ball means for striking saidareas and moving said arms relative to said frame, each of said ballmeans including an elongated strand element connected thereto.

ti. The game of claim 5 wherein said strand element is resilient.

1. A bowling-type game apparatus comprising: A platform member having abase with a top thereon; a plurality of pairs of divergent armsinterconnected at one end, said pairs of arms being arranged in seriesalong the top and movably connected thereto for pivoting movementrelative to said base about a common axis including each of saidinterconnected ends of said pairs of arms; each of said pairs of armshaving generally opposed striking areas at the outer ends thereof; ballmeans for striking said striking areas and moving said arms relative tosaid movable connection, each of said ball means including an elongatedstrand element connected thereto.
 2. The game of claim 1 wherein each ofsaid pair of arms are generally L-shaped with opposed free ends.
 3. Thegame of claim 2 wherein said top includes spaced pairs of uprights alongthe length thereof with each of said pairs of arms being pivoted betweena pair of said uprights.
 4. The game of claim 1 wherein said strandelement is resilient and is attached to a handle element.
 5. Abowling-type game apparatus comprising means defining a frame; aplurality of pairs of divergent arms supported on said frame in seriesand being interconnected at one end, said pairs of arms being movablyconnected to said frame for pivoting movement relative to said frameabout a common axis including each of said interconnected ends of saidpairs of arms; each of said pairs of arms having generally opposedstriking areas at the outer ends thereof, ball means for striking saidareas and moving said arms relative to said frame, each of said ballmeans including an elongated strand element connected thereto.
 6. Thegame of claim 5 wherein said strand element is resilient.